Greenwich Free Press (https://greenwichfreepress.com/tag/board-of-estimate-and-taxation/page/5/)
“Voters do determine which majority party will control BET decision making. Of the 12 candidates on the ballot, voters may choose any 6. The party receiving the most total votes becomes the majority party, which then elects the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and often, the Secretary. The Chairman receives a second, tie-breaking vote in most decisions.” – Sandy Waters, President, Greenwich League of Women Voters Continue Reading →
“If Republicans again block any update to the town’s ‘debt policy’ at the BET’s ‘decision meeting’ later this month, they could pay a heavy price in November, and November isn’t far away. Tick-tock.” – Mike Warner, Past Chair of the RTM Finance Committee Continue Reading →
A Message to the Board of Education, Board of Selectman, Board of Estimate and Taxation, Planning and Zoning Commission, RTM.
“Leadership requires making bold decisions because you value and seek to protect the welfare of the community’s citizens rather than lauding the number of playable hours on a field.” – Susan Rudolph, Greenwich Continue Reading →
The six members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation ask the Board of Education define programs with well-defined measurable goals and discontinue or change those programs with minimal student benefit. “It is time for the BOE to re-examine headcount growth and the rising costs of schools.” – Michael Mason (Caucus Chair), Leslie Tarkington, Bill Drake, Andy Duus, Karen Fassuliotis, Debra Hess Continue Reading →
Sandy Litvack talked about the First Selectman setting a “tone” for the town, the move afoot to cut 10-15% of the town’s budget, and opposing education charter change. Continue Reading →
In a 90-minute debate candidates shared ideas for funding capital projects, finding efficiencies, watching head counts, and controlling pension and health care costs. There was also talk of running schools in a period of declining enrollment and running a “private, money-losing nursing home.” Continue Reading →
“Last week the Town of Greenwich shifted Greenwich Fire Dept line personnel around in a manner that robs Peter to pay Paul by sabotaging properly staffed fire engines to marginally improve the safety on understaffed fire engines….Until this week, three fire engines in Town were staffed with four firefighters. Now, there are no fire engines in Town that meet this standard.” – Kevin Coyner, Career Firefighter and Acting Lieutenant, Greenwich Fire Department, Member, Retirement Board, Town of Greenwich, Former Greenwich resident and RTM member and Greenwich Volunteer Firefighter, Currently stationed at Station 4, Glenville Continue Reading →
The Democratic Caucus of the Board of Estimate and Taxation support the candidacy of our colleague John Blankley for the 36th State Senatorial District. Continue Reading →
At Thursday morning’s Board of Selectmen Meeting Peter Tesei said the BET hadn’t done a good job selling their budget to the RTM and that it wasn’t fair to characterize the budget increases as “out of control.” He cited unfunded legislative mandates and legal obligations of the town to fund pensions. He lamented the divisive nature of the fire station controversy. Drew Marzullo described Monday’s RTM meeting as a reality show, complete with booing and heckling. Continue Reading →
On Tuesday night a crowd of about 50 showed up at Town Hall for a primer on Greenwich government. The event, organized by Shelly Cryer and moderated by Jara Burnett of the League of Women Voters, allowed each panelist to sum up the function of their department or board, starting with the First Selectman. First Selectman as Full-Time Chief Executive
Tesei, now in his fourth term, said his job was made full-time in 1978 after a charter revision was approved by Greenwich voters in1975. The change took effect in 1977-78. In 1977 the election for First Selectman was deemed a tie, and, after a re-vote, Ruth Sims was elected the Town’s full-time chief executive, first woman and first Democrat in 75 years. Continue Reading →